Thursday, January 31, 2008

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Helen Thayer will read from "Walking the Gobi:" She'll talk about her and her husband Bill's adventures as the first man and woman to walk the entire length (almost 1,500 miles), east to west, of the Mongolian Gobi Desert. They persevered as they faced Siberian winds, accompanying sand storms, heat reaching 126 degrees, scarcity of water and plenty of scorpions. The Thayers' time spent with the Gobi Desert's nomads is one of many remarkable experiences described in her book.

Named "One of the Great Explorers of the 20th Century" by National Geographic, Thayer noted that she"first heard of the Gobi as a 13 year old growing up in New Zealand. Then the Gobi was as far away as the moon; now at 63 the dream has come full circle."

Her previous feats are impressive. In 1988, she became the first woman to walk and ski to either pole when she trekked solo to the Magnetic North Pole without dog sled or snowmobile. She was the first woman and first American to circumnavigate the Magnetic North Pole. Her amazing adventure with her beloved companion Charlie (her Canadian Eskimo Husky) was the basis for her first book, "Polar Dreams."

The course examines the changing role of Islam in Central Asia through history from a multidisciplinary perspective. It considers the diversity and multi-dimensionality of Islam as it influences social, cultural, political and religious life. Themes include: Islam and social order; Islam under Russian and Communist rule; Sufism, modernist Islam, "fundamentalism" and other forms of belief and practice; and the dynamic new role of Islam in the region following independence in 1991.

The following are some of the major topics to be addressed:

1) The historical development and diversity of Islamic civilization in Central Asia.2) Islam under the rule of the Russian empire, the Soviet Union, and independent states.3) Islam and its relations to other traditions: Issues of conversion, syncretism, and confrontation with other religious traditions and belief systems.4) Islam as religion and belief system: Central Asia's role in the broader traditions, schools, orders and reform movements.5) Islamic principles of social order: Hereditary roles, teachers, judges, healers, Islamic principles of authority, of community, of family relations, and of government and participation.6) Islam as way of life: Ritual practice, other Muslim cultural practices, principles of daily behavior, and the mixture of Muslim ways of being with Soviet and post-Soviet ways.7) Islam as a principle and structure of political mobilization: Islamic opposition, state legitimacy, reform, and "fundamentalism"; Roles of Islamic movements in relation to secular, non-Islamic, or anti-Islamic regimes.

The realm of Islam in Central Asia is currently undergoing tremendous change with far-reaching implications for the future of the region and beyond -- making it a fascinating topic to explore.

Please pass this information on to other who you think might be interested in joining the course.

Armenian composer, musicologist, conductor, and teacher Grikor Mirzaian Suni (1876-1939) is one of the founders of modern Armenian music. Born east of Lake Sevan in Getabek village, he was raised in the eastern reaches of Historic Armenia, in Shushi (now part of Azerbaijan). Suni's music is beautiful, soulful, lively classical art music based in Armenian folk music of his own collecting, and includes vocal solos and duets, 4-part choral works, orchestral suites, and instrumental pieces. His music is unique and at the same time "Armenian", and like the music of Bach is polyphonic, contrapuntal, and versatile, wonderful on any instruments. From a long line of Armenian ashough singers, Mirzaian (Suni) worked with all the Armenian masters of his time, and then at the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music, Mirzaian Suni studied composition with Rimsky-Korsakov. Suni collected the songs of Armenians during his wide travels in the Caucasus, Anatolia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Iran, and India. World war, revolution, and the genocide of the Ottoman Armenians caused Suni to flee to the US in 1923, where he conducted church choirs, created Armenian folk choruses, soloists and orchestras, in New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia (where he settled in 1925), and supported Armenia from afar. His son Gourgen (George) Suny picked up his father's baton in 1939.

contact: armena1949@gmail.com See our website

www.suniproject.org to hear 4 hours of his music, see photos, read about him, see a 2 minute video of old Armenian men from the Armenian city of Van dancing in New York in 1946 "Dancing Vanetsi's", and more! The Suni Project: Music Preservation is nonprofit 501(c)3 based in Ann Arbor, MI

A small admission charge benefits the Tekeyan Cultural Association: $20, $10 for students. Audience youngest is age 12.

To go to Armenian Congregational Church from Ann Arbor: Take 23 North to 14 East to 275 North to 696 East to Telegraph Rd = 24 North (OR take 23 North to 14 East to 96 East to Telegraph Road = 24 North) to exit Telegraph Rd = 24 at 12 Mile Rd, go LEFT on 12 Mile Rd, almost to Northwestern Highway to the Armenian Congregational Church.. The church is on your right at Franklin Rd. before a bank (north side of 12 Mile Road), set back from the road, parallel to the road, with no visible outside cross: Armenian Congregational Church 26210 West 12Mile Rd, Southfield, MI.

Posted by: Journal of Power Inst in Post-Soviet Soc <kozlowsk@club-internet.fr>

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to inform you that a new issue (6/7) of the Journal of Power Institutions in Post-Soviet Societies (www.pipss.org) on "The Social and Political Role of War Veterans" is now available on-line.

You will find below the table of contents.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth Sieca-KozlowskiChief Editor

Issue 6/7 - 2007 – The Social and Political Role of War Veterans

Introduction by Elisabeth Sieca-Kozlowski (6/7 issue editor)

The Social and Political Role of War Veterans - Articles

Pavel Petrovich ShcherbininThe Peculiarities of Social Welfare for Military Service Veterans in the Russian Empire, 18th through early 20th Centuries (in Russian)

The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) is seeking a Russia Project Coordinator to take up appointment as soon as possible, and invites applications from suitably qualified persons. This is a two-years contract position with the possibility of an extension. The project coordinator will be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week.

Duties and responsibilities: The Russia Project Coordinator will have the following duties and responsibilities: * Implementation of projects in Russia * Monitoring, evaluation and project support * Analysis and project development * Reporting on the Russia project to IWGIA's committees and board * Fund raising

The Russia Project Coordinator position is based in IWGIA's secretariat in Copenhagen but regular travel to the project areas is required.

Qualification and skills required: * A degree in social science * Working experience from Russia and knowledge of Russian conditions * Knowledge of indigenous peoples' issues in Russia * Experience of project administration, coordination and reporting * Experience in fund raising * Excellent communication skills in both spoken and written Russian and English * Strong organizational and interpersonal skills * Analytical ability

The Project Coordinator must be able to take part in IWGIA's other activities, in cooperation with IWGIA's director, the other coordinators and the administrative staff.

Submission of Applications:Applications for this position will only be accepted in electronic format. The letter of application and CV must be in English. Applications should be sent to IWGIA's director, Lola García-Alix at position@iwgia.org

Further information about IWGIA, can be found at www.iwgia.org. For informal inquiries, please contact Lola García-Alix at (+45) 35 27 05 10or Kathrin Wessendorf at (+45) 35 27 05 02

A distribution of: Central-Asia-Harvard-List. The Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies at Harvard University

CONCERTS- Alash Ensemble, Tuvan Throat Singers, Cambridge and Boston

Posted by: Johanna Kovitz <joko@pangolyn.com>

ALASH, throat singers from the Central Asian Republic of Tuva, will present a triple offering to Bostonians in January: a concert at Lily Pad, a free lecture/performance at New England Conservatory, and for the first time a workshop at the HeARTbeat Collective, where would-be throat singers will have a rare opportunity to study with the masters.

Monday, January 21Workshop in Throat Singing, taught by members of AlashHeARTbeat Collective35 Wyman St.Jamaica Plain MA 0213012:00-2:30 pm for beginners3:30-6:00 pm for those with some experience$30 one session, $50 two sessionsEnrollment limited; advance registration required:email zenmassage@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 23Alash, Music from TuvaNew England Conservatory(performance-lecture sponsored by NEC Intercultural Institute)Williams Hall290 Huntington Ave.Boston MA 021154:00-5:30 p.m.Free & open to the public

For 43 years and in 145 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development consultancy firm that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness systems, financial services, enterprise development and community development in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 90 projects in 40 countries and revenues of approximately $90 million.

We are currently seeking a Deputy Chief of Party / Senior Association Specialist based in Kyrgyzstan for immediate placement. The DCOP will support the management of an on-going four-year project in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan). The project focuses on expanding rural and agricultural lending services by strengthening national microfinance associations, credit unions, and other lenders that are willing to undertake innovative approaches to serving agricultural and rural areas. We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible.

Responsibilities: * provide overall management responsibility for Component I - Financial Sector Growth * overall technical direction for the four Central Asian Microfinance Associations (MFAs) * support to MFAs to develop business plans and financial projections * provide hands-on training and technical assistance to MFAs * assist in various trainings, study tours and conferences. * develop and monitor MFAs budgets * supervise and ensure all grants management practices strictly adhere to all conditions and requirements with USAID * participate in all MFA assessment activities and the Action Plans development

Qualifications: * minimum of 3 years experience in the association development, microfinance, and training activities is required * regional experience is required * demonstrated proficiency in the field of people and project management, strategic planning and monitoring & evaluation is preferred * familiarity with USAID procedures and policies is highly preferred * proven track record of building relationships with associations, governmental organizations as well as private organizations is required * established track record of achieving results within difficult working environments is preferred * fluency in both English and Russian languages is required

The Italian Association for the Study of Central Asia and the Caucasus (ASIAC)is glad to announce the publication of:

Revoliutsiia naoborot, Sredniaia Aziia mezhdu padeniem tsarskoi imperii i obrazovaniem SSSR(An Upside Down Revolution, Central Asia between the Collapse of the Tsarist Empire and the Formation of the USSR)

The book deals with the history of Turkestan (the region of Central Asiawhich is currently made up of the Republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,Tajikistan and Kirghizia) in the first quarter of the twentieth century. Themain focus is on the complex social and political dynamics which were setoff by the collapse of the Tsarist empire and the rise of the Soviet regime.The study is heavily based on still unused primary sources, gathered inMoscow, Tashkent and Ferghana. They range from the reports of the tsaristadministration on the state of the colony to the newspapers of Tashkent andVernyi, from the papers in the military, state and party archives to thedocuments produced by the various levels of the local administration.

The study provides a fresh account of the events of this turbulent period byhighlighting the diversity of situations that characterised the variousparts of the region and the different contexts of Turkestan society. Alarge part of the book is therefore devoted to an in-depth analysis of threeparticularly illuminating cases: Tashkent, the headquarters of the Russianpolitical and military power; the Ferghana valley, a region where the armedresistance against the Soviets (basmachestvo) was particularly strong; andthe Semirech'e, a nomads' region in which famine and the ensuing socialconflict assume catastrophic dimensions.

The book is distributed world-wide by Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, mkniga@gmail.com (the Russian books exporter from 1923, with a good selection of leading humanities publishers from Russia)

MA Program in European, Russian, and Eurasian StudiesUniversity of Toronto

The MA Program at the University of Toronto's Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (CERES) offers students the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive, rigorous and hands-on study program. CERES has some of the top faculty in their fields and provides generous funding to MA candidates through fellowships or financial support for internships, language training and study abroad opportunities. Our students typically are engaged in research or training internationally, with advisory and logistical support from CERES. This field component sets us apart from other MA programs.

In addition to a diverse array of courses, the MA program has an important practical dimension; we host two or more workshops per year with key practitioners from the region. This is over and above our busy agenda of seminars and conferences. Every week, top specialists from around the world take part in an engaging series of debates at the Munk Centre. Students are encouraged as well to develop their own projects and initiatives, and every year CERES students host their own graduate student conference.

CERES is an excellent place to deepen one's understanding of Central Asian states and societies, as well as their vibrant external links to the broader region, however defined. Toronto is a truly multicultural city of over 2.5 million residents, and it is a major transportation hub, with myriad nonstop flights to major cities across the US, Europe, and beyond.

Applications received by February 15, 2008, will be considered for funding. For more information on the CERES MA program and for application materials, please consult:

IREX's STG Program seeks to attract, select, and support in-depth field research by US scholars and experts in policy-relevant subject areas related to Southeast Europe and Eurasia, as well as to disseminate knowledge about these regions to a wide network of constituents in the United States and abroad. The STG Program provides fellows with the means to conduct in-country research on contemporary political, economic, historical, and cultural developments relevant to US foreign policy. The STG Program plays a vital role in supporting the emergence of a dedicated and knowledgeable cadre of US scholars and experts who can enrich the US understanding of developments in Southeast Europe and Eurasia.

STG provides fellowships for up to eight weeks to US postdoctoral scholars and holders of other graduate degrees (MA, MS, MFA, MBA, MPA, MLIS, MPH, JD, MD) for independent or collaborative research projects in Europe and Eurasia.

Grant Provisions * International coach class round-trip transportation from the US to the host country/countries for the period of grant awarded; * A monthly allowance for housing and living expenses, based on IREX's pre-established country-specific rates (IREX will determine your housing amount at the time of your grant award, based on your city/cities of placement); * Travel visas: IREX will pay for and assist with fellows' visas for travel related to the fellowship; and * Emergency evacuation insurance. Please note that IREX does not provide health insurance, only emergency evacuation insurance.

Note that this fellowship is only available to applicants that are US citizens or have permanent residency in the United States.

The Department of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, University of Athens isintending to hire in the near future a number of scholars whose expertiseoverlaps with the Department's current curriculum. For more information,please consult the Department's website at http://www.turkmas.uoa.gr.

Interested scholars are kindly requested to submit until 31 January 2008their curriculum vitae (including publications), either by post (Departmentof Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, University of Athens Kaplanon 6, AthensGR-106 80, Greece), or by email to the attention of Ms. AekateriniPavlopoulou (pavlocat@turkmas.uoa.gr).

Asian Studies is a growing field within and, we hope, beyond Area Studies. Recent developments in Asian research reflect modern and contemporary events across a wide range of disciplines. As the body of research on Asia grows, questions concerning the production and mediation of "Asia" become more pressing. The critical and fundamental questions "What is Asia?" and "How to study Asia?" remain unresolved and contested. As a field, moreover, Asian Studies remains driven by disciplinary divides; interdisciplinary intersections remain disappointingly rare.

With this conference we seek to address the epistemology and methodology of researching Asia within and beyond the geographical and disciplinary constraints traditionally associated with Area Studies. We invite papers from graduate students engaged in interdisciplinary research in Asian Studies focusing on the modern and contemporary periods.

Interested participants should submit a paper title, abstract (250 words maximum) and brief biographical information by April 1, 2008. Selected participants must submit completed papers by August 1, 2008. Inquiries and email submissions can be sent to the conference organizers at: transformationsasiaconference@gmail.com. More information about the conference can be found on the conference website:

This Conference is hosted by the York Centre for Asian Research at York University. York University has a proud history as a leader in innovative and creative learning approaches with an emphasis on multidisciplinary research that covers wide geographical areas. This Conference reflects the strengths of York faculty and students in interdisciplinary approaches to research and learning. For more information about the Centre: please visit: www.yorku.ca/ycar.

The American Institute of Afghanistan Studies (AIAS) invites applications for support of short term research or other scholarly projects that will advance the knowledge of Afghanistan. Applicants should be at the post-doctoral level or have equivalent professional experience. The Fellowship will support work focusing on any aspect of Afghanistan studies, but cannot currently be used within, or for travel to, Afghanistan. The maximum award for each fellowship will be $6500. The application deadline is April 1, 2008 with an anticipated award date of May 1, 2008. The project or research must be completed by October 1, 2008. Eligibility is limited to US citizens and permanent residents.

2008 Getty Research Exchange Fellowship Program for the Mediterranean Basin and Middle East

The American Institute of Afghanistan Studies and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers announce a new fellowship program open to scholars who are Afghan citizens and who have already obtained a Ph.D. or have professional experience in the study or preservation of cultural heritage and who wish to undertake a specific research project at an overseas research centers in another country. Funded by the Getty Foundation, the fellowships require scholars to affiliate with one of the following overseas research centers: American Academy in Rome; American Center of Oriental Research (Amman); American Institute for Maghrib Studies (Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria); American Institute for Yemeni Studies (Sana'a); American Research Center in Egypt (Cairo); American Research Institute in Turkey (Istanbul and Ankara); American School of Classical Studies at Athens; Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute (Nicosia); and the W.F Albright Institute of Archaeological Research (Jerusalem). The deadline for this application is February 15, 2008.

LECTURE- Rise of the SCO in Central Asia: Western Reactions, SRC-AUCA, Jan. 16

Posted by: Alexander I. Pugachev <pugachev_a@mail.auca.kg>

Social Research Center at American University of Central Asia(www.src.auca.kg) presents:

Lecture: "The Rise of the SCO in Central Asia: Western Foreign PolicyReactions"

Speaker: Alexander Cooley, Ph.D, Columbia University, USA

Time: 17.00, January 16th, 2008

Venue: 315, AUCA (Main Building)

Language: English (Interpretation into Russian will be arranged, ifrequested)

Abstract: The rise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a mainregional organization in Central Asia is drawing increasing concern andcriticism in Western foreign policy establishments. Since its 2005 summitdeclarations, when the organization declared that US military bases inCentral Asia should be removed now that their original mission inAfghanistan has been completed, Western analysts have viewed the SCO as athreat to Western interests in Central Asia. Specifically, the SCO is viewedas a regional organization through which Russia and China can exert pressureon the smaller Central Asian states to promote their regional interests andcheck the influence of the United States. Western observers are alsoconcerned about the group's potential as an Energy Club and Iran's potentialmembership in the organization. This lecture argues against this prevailingview that sees the SCO as an anti-American military alliance. Rather, I willargue that the true role of the SCO lies in providing necessary regionalpublic goods for the Central Asian states, but doing so in a way that doesnot involve itself in the internal decision-making or domestic politics ofmember countries. Unlike Western organizations operating in the region suchas the OSCE, the World Bank or the EU, the SCO is fostering cooperativeinitiatives without placing political or economic conditions on memberstates. Accordingly, the author concludes that the SCO, from the Westernperspective, does challenge Western interests in the region, but not as amilitary alliance. Rather, the SCO undermines the influence and authority ofWestern international organizations that traditionally have performedregional functions such as monitoring elections, promoting human rights,funding large developmental projects and providing humanitarian assistance.

Bio: Alexander Cooley is Assistant Professor of Political Science at BarnardCollege and Columbia University's School of International and PublicAffairs. He earned both his M.A. (1995) and Ph.D. (1999) from ColumbiaUniversity. Cooley is the author of several books and scholarly articlesthat examine the international relations of the post-Soviet states, with afocus on Central Asia. His first book, Logics of Hierarchy (CornellUniversity Press 2005), examined Soviet legacies in Central Asia and wasawarded the 2006 Marshall Shulman Prize by the American Association for theAdvancement for Slavic Studies (AASS) for outstanding book on theinternational relations of the post-Communist states. His new book - BasePolitics: Democratic Change and the U.S. Military Overseas (CornellUniversity Press, 2008)- examines the domestic politics surrounding U.S.overseas military bases in East Asia, Southern Europe and the post-Communiststates (including Kyrgyzstan).

In addition to his academic work, Professor Cooley has published articles inForeign Affairs magazine and has contributed opinion pieces to the New YorkTimes and International Herald Tribune. He has been a Transatlantic Fellowwith the German Marshall Fund in Brussels (2005) and an InternationalSecurity Fellow with the Smith Richardson Foundation (2007). Cooley alsotaught a class at the American University in Kyrgyzstan in 1998.

How to register: Please RSVP to pss@mail.auca.kg giving your name andinstitution.

The Department of Human Geography at Frankfurt University invites applications for a Research and Teaching Assistant(wissenschaftliche/r Mitarbeiter/in) BAT IIa 50%, three year term

to work on a World Bank co-funded project on local government reform in rural Russia. The contract is based on the regulations of the "Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz" and the "Hessische Hochschulgesetz".

The project will examine the implications of the ongoing reforms of local self government in rural Russia for the quality of communal services and the establishment of a property right regime in the former collective farms. The successful candidate will be responsible for the primary and secondarydata collection, participant observation and document analysis.

This post will involve extensive travel to the Russian Federation and the USA and offers the opportunity to work on a PhD thesis. It can be upgraded to BAT IIa equivalent depending on the approval of a respective project proposal.

The successful candidate will have to teach at the Department of Human Geography at Frankfurt University and participate in academic self-administration.

Candidates should have a Master degree, Magister Artium or University Diploma in Human Geography or a related discipline and have experience of conducting interviews and analyzing data, preferably in a transition or developing economy setting. English, German and Russian languageskills are required.

Further information about the Department of Human Geography at Frankfurt University can befound at www.humangeography.de

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact Prof. Dr. Peter Lindner on Tel.: +49 (0)6979822663 or e-mail: plindner@uni-frankfurt.de

Times of Trouble: Violence in Eurasia from Past to Present New York CityApril 4-6, 2008

Application Submission Deadline: January 16, 2008

The Eurasia Program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)invites proposals for a dissertation development workshop focusing onissues of violence in Eurasia. Graduate students at any stage of theirdissertation process (from proposal to write-up) and from anydisciplinary or interdisciplinary program in the humanities or socialsciences are eligible to apply. We particularly encourage applicants whopropose fresh theoretical perspectives and methodologies, and whose workspeaks to a wide scholarly audience.

Tsarist-era pogroms, the brutalities of the Stalinist period, the fameof the Russian mafia, contemporary human rights abuses in Central Asia,and ongoing conflicts across the Caucasus suggest only some of the bestknown concerns of the past 100 years. What kind of norms or values havegoverned the use of violence in the territory once covered by theRussian empire and the Soviet Union, now by the Russian Federation andother successor states? To what extent have scholars focusedappropriately, or at times excessively, on these most sensationalaspects of former Soviet space? What have been the responses fromindividuals, groups, and states from within and outside the region toviolence and repression, or to ongoing scholarly and popular renderingsof themselves as violent? Does the region deserve such reputationrelative to other world areas?

These and related questions will shape the discussions of the EurasiaProgram dissertation development workshop, with participants invitedfrom, but not limited to the fields of anthropology, archaeology,economics, environmental studies, film and media studies, history, law,literature, politics, psychology, and sociology.

For detailed information on application procedures and eligibilityrequirements, please visit the Eurasia Program online atwww.ssrc.org/programs/eurasia or contact program staff ateurasia@ssrc.org.

The Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) will be hosting a joint Holocaust - Armenian Genocide exhibit on Sunday, January 20, 2008 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ALMA is located in the heart of the Watertown Square (65 Main Street, Watertown MA.) The goal of the event is to further enhance the bond between two peoples who have each suffered horrific crimes against humanity, as they continue to recognize common ground and share a hope for a better future.

The Holocaust exhibit will include photos, video, and valuables formerly belonging to inmates at Auschwitz that have been recently unveiled by 92-year-old Holocaust survivor and Brighton resident Meyer Hack. As a laundry worker, Hack retrieved these pieces from inmates' clothing when the latter were removed from them. Miraculously, he hid them from the Nazis throughout his years in the camps. These artifacts have not been publicly displayed yet, and after this event, they will be installed at the Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem in Jerusalem in a special ceremony.

The Armenian Genocide exhibit, "In Memoriam" the only permanent exhibit on Armenian Genocide in the United States, is a memorial to the most tragic of all events in Armenia's 3,000 year-old history. The exhibit pays tribute to more than 1.5 million victims of the first Genocide of the 20th century. ALMA's exhibit is intended to help the visitor "feel" the Genocide as well as "learn" about it by conveying the horror of those deaths along with statistics and other accounts in text and photographs. The Armenian Genocide exhibit will be accompanied by additional photographs from Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives. Among these will be photographs of concentration camps taken by an Armenian WWII photographer from Belmont.

Mr. Meyer Hack, Holocaust survivor and resident of Brighton and Mr. Kevork Norian, an Armenian Genocide survivor and resident of Arlington, will be the keynote speakers of the event. Introductions will be done by WBZ radio talk host Jordan Rich. In addition to the exhibit and Mr. Hack's and Mr. Norian's personal stories, the event will include ethnic music by Armenian and Jewish performers Martin Haroutunian, Ara Sarkissian, Cantor Robbie Solomon, Glenn Dickson and Grant Smith, poetry recitals, as well as religious invocations by Armenian clergy and Rabbi Moshe Waldoks, from Temple Beth Zion in Brookline.

The event is sponsored by the following organizations: * The Armenian Library and Museum of America * The Armenian National Committee of America * The Armenian Assembly of America * Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives * The Holocaust Center, Boston North * Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University, Worcester * Facing History and Ourselves, Brookline

Armenian and Kosher refreshments will be served at the event which is free and open to the public. It will be alcohol-free, all ages, and handicapped-accessible. There is on-street parking as well as a large municipal parking lot behind the building. ALMA is very close to the Mass. Turnpike Exit 17 and is on the route of many MBTA buses (www.mbta.com). For more information please contact Christie Hardiman at ALMA (617.926.2562 ext. 4) or Susie Davidson (617-566-7557) or visit www.almainc.org.

Founded in 1971, ALMA's mission is to present and preserve the culture, history, art and contributions of the Armenian people to Americans and Armenians alike. Since its inception, ALMA's collection has grown to over 26,000 books and 20,000 artifacts, making it perhaps the largest and most diverse holding of Armenian cultural artifacts outside of Armenia. As a repository for heirlooms, the collection now represents a major resource not only for Armenian studies research, but as well as for preservation and illustration of the Armenian heritage. In 1988, ALMA acquired a 30,000 square foot facility in Watertown, MA – one of North America's oldest and most active Armenian communities. The facility includes exhibition galleries, Library, administrative offices, function hall, climate-controlled vaults and conservation lab.

ALMA is the only independent Armenian Museum in the Diaspora funded solely through contributions of individual supporters. An active Board of Trustees and volunteer base augments the museum's staff. Museum's active schedule of changing exhibits includes the use of the library primarily by researchers and interested general public seeking research materials on Armenians. In addition, the museum sponsors lecture and presentation program on related topics.

Hours: Friday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission: Free admission for ALMA Members; $2 for students; $5 for non-members; Children 12 and under are free. Driving Directions: Take route 95 to 128 to 90 (Mass Pike East) towards Watertown. Take exit 17-Watertown/Newton. Go North 1 mile towards Watertown Square. As you cross the small bridge, get into the 2 left lanes. Turn left onto Main Street. Turn right onto Church Street, and then turn right into the municipal parking lot. MBTA Buses: 71, 70/70A, 57, 52, 59, 502, 504. Please visit

Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives Founded in 1975 by Ruth Thomasian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives is dedicated to saving the photographic heritage of the worldwide Armenian community. The Archives collects, documents, and preserves photographs of all subjects and time periods relating to Armenian people, their culture, and their country. Documenting the work of Armenian photographers is of special interest. With collections of more than 25,000 images, Project SAVE Archives promotes Armenian culture and history by making its photographs available for public use. Learn more about the archives at www.projectsave.org or call 617-923-4542.

Armenian National Committee of America The Armenian National Committee is a grassroots Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANC actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues

Armenian Assembly of America The Armenian Assembly, established in 1972, is a Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

We are delighted to announce to you the sixteenth volume in the series "Silk Road Studies" : Aspects of Research into Central Asian Buddhism. The book is published in honour of Prof. Kogi Kudara. The publication date is scheduled for February 2008.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Here is the photo that I didn't manage to include in my previous message....

With Best Wishes for 2008

We start our lives with little sense of what prompts the worse things that people do. The clumsy, terribly destructive, and almost senseless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan stick in my mind as low points of our era, for what humanity can achieve. But our one-year-old, Kanat enjoying a peach, shows me what our innate love of life draws us toward instead.

May we approach 2008, like a clean page, ready to make the best of life -- approaching as well as we can the wisdom of the newly born.

This is a reminder, sent out once a month, about yourlists.fas.harvard.edu mailing list memberships. It includes yoursubscription info and how to use it to change it or unsubscribe from alist.

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